Concepts and Techniques of Clinical Therapy Used
Cognitive Therapy
Cognitive therapy is a technique used to treat depression, dysfunction, and withdrawal, among other psychological disorders. It is based on the notion that a person’s negative feelings are because of their thoughts about self, not outside influences or events. It acknowledges that while we might not control what happens to us by our environments, we might undoubtedly control how we think about them. It is effective because it helps people change how they think about themselves and how they react to the environment.
Some of the cognitive therapy techniques being used clinically include cognitive restructuring, introspective exposure, exposure and response prevention, progressive muscle relaxation, relaxed breathing, and journaling.
Since cognitive therapy aims to focus on a person’s thoughts and mood, treating Cassie will focus on her negative thoughts and perspectives and distort these thoughts and rewire her to acquire new thought processes. One of the thoughts that Cassie has is that she is alone and unloved. She feels this is because her boyfriend abandoned her at the time that she needed him the most. She thinks that she is not worthy of love, so she resorts to drugs and alcohol to feel better about herself.
We will talk about these thoughts, helping Cassie to talk about those dark underlying thought processes, and together we will develop a healthy mechanism of controlling destructive thoughts. I will make Cassie understand that her boyfriend leaving her had nothing to do with her. Moreover, while the loss of her unborn child was tragic, I will make Cassie understand that bad things happen in the world, and these things are fundamentally uncontrollable. I will help her understand that positive thoughts go a long way in improving her reactions to external situations that she has no control over.
Cognitive therapy is effective where medication has not worked, can be completed in a short period, and can be provided in different formats. However, it needs commitment because of regular visits. It takes a lot of time and is centered on an individual’s capacity to change themselves and not on systems and families that aggravate the patient’s problems.
Dialect Behavior Therapy
Dialect behavior therapy is a type of cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy that aimed at making a patient develop mindfulness skills. These skills enable the patient to pay attention to the moment and therefore disrupt destructive thought processes before they develop. It involves a step-by-step analysis of the primary patient symptoms in terms of behavior, cognitive patterns, coping mechanisms, and developing new skill sets and healthy coping mechanisms. Dialect behavior therapy techniques include individual therapy, skills training group, telephone consultations, and therapist consultation groups.
I will treat Cassie by changing her behavioral response. Together, we will develop better, healthier ways of coping, reduce her vulnerability to external triggers, and managing those triggers when they get to her. By recognizing destructive behaviors, we can replace them with more healthy and effective ones.
I will help her change her thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors by encouraging her to improve the moment that the negative thoughts start to set in. She will do this by breathing more deeply and think about pleasant thoughts. These momentary actions will disrupt the negative thought processes and enable her to focus on thinking that is more positive.
Dialectical behavior therapy reduces withdrawal symptoms, improved tolerance and regulations of symptoms, and improved coping mechanisms, among other benefits. However, it requires a lot of time to master, and individual therapy might not be effective.
Acknowledgment and Self-Reward
Acknowledgment and self-reward also go a long way in treating dysfunction and withdrawal from Cassie’s society. It involves recognizing and acknowledging your own achievement and thereby boosting confidence. One of the biggest things that Cassie has achieved is graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Science that is no mean feat. While acknowledging this achievement, Cassie can reward herself by buying herself something she has wanted for a long time. By acknowledging herself, it can motivate her to move further. Besides, acknowledgment does not have to be exclusive to big achievements. Rewarding self when achieving small things can also go a long way in improving self-belief and esteem. In this way, she will be more comfortable with herself and motivated to look for a science job irrespective of prejudices.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Cassie being depressed and withdrawn from society, cognitive therapy, dialect behavioral therapy, acknowledgment and reward will go a long way in getting her back on track. Cognitive therapy will encourage her to focus on better thoughts about herself. Dialect behavioral therapy will help her disrupt destructive thoughts and unhealthy coping mechanisms. Acknowledgment and self-reward will enable her to accept and recognize her achievements and improve her self-belief and esteem. All these techniques will enable her to feel better about herself and get back to the world with a better perspective.